Dyneema® provides strength, robustness, and waterproofing, without compromising on lightness. Since its inception, Samaya has worked in close collaboration with Dyneema®. Samaya's expertise combined with the performance of Dyneema® fiber allows for the design of equipment that combines strength, lightness, impermeability, and durability.
Dyneema® combines flexibility, water resistance, mechanical resistance to puncture and tearing, and material durability when exposed to chemical agents or UV light, all without compromising on weight. Pound for pound, Dyneema® is 15 times stronger than steel and light enough to float on water. Samaya has chosen these fibers for multiple applications and holds exclusivity on certain technologies.
Dyneema® filaments consist of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, which are very long, linear molecules that can contain more than 500,000 atoms. The molecules are bonded to each other at every atom. They are strongly linked due to their length, which makes them an extremely strong polymer and fiber, with Dyneema® being 40% more robust than aramid (such as Kevlar) and 5 times stronger than polyester at an equivalent weight (g/den tenacity).
Samaya has chosen to use the bio-based version of Dyneema® fiber, offering identical performance while reducing its carbon footprint by 90%. In this version, the ethylene used to produce the polyethylene is extracted from wood pulp. The extracted polyethylene is mixed with a solvent to form a gel. Through a spinning process, this mixture is transformed into Dyneema® monofilaments. The resulting monofilaments are 2 deniers, meaning that 9 kilometers of Dyneema® filaments weigh 2 grams.
For a selection of tents in the ULTRA range, Samaya has selected an exclusive composite...
For the body of the bags in the ULTRA range, Samaya has selected Dyneema® Composite Fabric (DCF) laminated with a woven polyester. Thanks to its abrasion resistance properties, the polyester acts to protect the DCF in order to preserve its mechanical strength and waterproof properties, and to maintain the repairability of the DCF. This hybrid combination, known as DCF H, offers mechanical strength, waterproofing, and abrasion resistance.
For the body of the bags in the ULTRA range, Samaya has selected Dyneema® Composite Fabric (DCF) laminated with a woven polyester. Thanks to its abrasion resistance properties, the polyester acts to protect the DCF in order to preserve its mechanical strength and waterproof properties, and to maintain the repairability of the DCF. This hybrid combination, known as DCF H, offers mechanical strength, waterproofing, and abrasion resistance.
Dyneema® filaments can be used in multiple processes to obtain different materials such as yarns or composites. They can also be woven to produce ropes or fabrics.
To make a Dyneema® yarn, several filaments are intertwined. These yarns can then optionally be woven to create a fabric, combined with other yarns to achieve different properties, or braided to create ropes or cords. The resulting yarns are lightweight, while also being highly resistant.
Some of the webbing selected by Samaya is also made of Dyneema®, as are the cords used for the tent guylines, in order to provide lightness, rigidity, and mechanical resistance.
The filaments are stacked parallel and perpendicular to each other without being interwoven, unlike a conventional fabric. This method forms the core of Dyneema® Composite Fabric (DCF).
Once the stack is obtained, it is enclosed by other components that provide additional properties. This complex step is carried out by low-temperature lamination (bonding). It allows different layers of materials to be assembled together, combining their properties to form flexible, strong, and lightweight materials.
For tent floors, Mylar films are laminated on both sides of the Dyneema® filaments. These films provide abrasion resistance and waterproofing, while the Dyneema® filaments offer tensile strength. The combination of these materials results in superior puncture and tear resistance properties. In the case of the walls of the ULTRA range, the technicality goes further: breathability and air permeability properties are added.
At an equivalent mass and compared to a 30D High Tenacity Nylon fabric coated with Polyurethane and Silicone, a DCF is:
- 2 times more resistant to tension[1],
- 5 times more resistant to tearing[2],
- 10 times more waterproof[3].
These materials are also very easily repairable using various techniques (including the application of cold-pressure patches), which increases the lifespan of Samaya equipment.
[1] According to ISO 13934-1 standard
[2] According to ISO 13937-2 standard
[3] According to ISO 811 standard
Some of the webbing selected by Samaya is also made of Dyneema®, as are the cords used for the tent guy lines, in order to provide lightness, rigidity, and mechanical strength.
Weaving consists of interlacing two sets of threads perpendicularly, called warp and weft threads. The use of Dyneema® yarns to create a fabric makes it possible to achieve an unrivaled strength-to-weight ratio.
